Moving to Canada in my 40s helped me rediscover my strength as a woman

This First Person article is the experience of Marwa Abu Eita, who moved from Dubai to Regina in 2023. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ. This story is part of Welcome to Canada, a CBC News series about immigration told through the eyes of the people who have experienced it.

I was staring at the advertising message on my phone with tears in my eyes.

 "Would you like to move to Canada? Give us a call and let's help you find the way."

It was not the first time I cried alone in my car, waiting to give my husband a ride after his site inspections on another hot scorching day in Dubai. 

But it was the first time I was determined to do something about it, and find my own way in a new country.

For years, I had lived in my husband's shadow. I had left my job at an architectural firm to help build our own construction company. I thought we were going to be partners at work but I ended up becoming his personal assistant.

Over time, I lost myself and my confidence.

I thought that was my role like many other women in my Egyptian culture, standing behind my man and raising my kids. There's even a saying to justify that: "Behind every great man is a great woman."

But standing in my husband's shadow wasn't satisfying for me. I needed a change.

As an architect who worked in Dubai for over 15 years and spoke English fluently, I could see a path for myself to a permanent residence in Canada. But did I trust myself to walk that path to the end?

Family and friends were discouraging, asking why would I leave a stable job for some mysterious future?

My husband was also skeptical, as going through an immigration lawyer would be expensive, and fees had to be paid in advance with no guarantee of success. But when I pointed out that immigration would give our children a path to education, permanent residency and citizenship in Canada, he agreed. He supported me in my decision not to use a lawyer, and go through the process by myself, with a plan that he would join us once I established myself in a new country.  

Deep within myself, I knew I could achieve what I put my mind toward and knew I was doing the right thing, not just for myself, but for my son and daughter.

I started the long road to immigrating in 2017, first rebuilding my career as an architect in Dubai. I worked full-time at a consultant office while still working with our family business. I found time to study online at a Canadian university. I even started polishing my rusty French.